This story first appeared on the Union County Moms Network.
People say traveling with kids is just parenting in a different location. Well, I recently parented in Italy and here are my 5 tips to make life a little bit easier when you are there.
Hot Tip 1: Take the latest flight available.
We flew on the 5pm flight out of Newark. Prior to leaving, we did apply and receive Global Entry which provided us with TSA precheck as well. This would come in very handy during the travel. Global Entry is free for the kids, but they do need to have it. Check your credit card to see if they reimburse you for it. We were reimbursed using American Express and the United Credit Card.
Looking back, I wish we took a later flight. It would have allowed our kids to sleep longer on the plane. It was an 8 and half hour flight but our kids only slept for about 4 hours before arriving in Rome where it was the morning. On the return, having Global Entry made life very easy. We did not wait in any lines. We were home before the relatives we were traveling with were off the Customs line. I do wish we took a later flight out of Italy, it would have made adjusting to sleep easier. It took the kids a solid 4 days to adjust and stop waking up at 4 am.
Hot Tip 2: Request the bassinet when flying with an infant
After booking out normal economy seats I called the airline and requested the bassinet for the baby. They were able to accommodate me. Getting the bassinet also meant getting upgraded seats because you need the seats that were near the bulk head (where the bassinet attaches). United allowed me to take one of my family members with me. My oldest and I were upgraded to the additional leg room seats with the baby. Having the bassinet meant I did not have to hold the baby for the entire 8 hour flight. It also allowed him to get sound sleep on the plane (pictured below)
Hot Tip 3: Bring the stroller
You may think your child is too old for a stroller, but you will want it. We brought a double Zoe for the two oldest and borrowed a Doona for the baby. Rome and Tuscany are long days of walking and many towns/villages in Tuscany are on steep hills. Having the strollers allowed us to enjoy our days while little legs were able to rest or take naps. The cobblestone streets were great for putting the baby to sleep. The Zoe was incredibly light weight making it easy to fold when needed to get on and off trains or in restaurants and the Doona allowed us to not worry about a car seat when getting in and out of taxis.
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Hot Tip 4: Book the Wine Tasting in Tuscany and bring the kids
Italians love children. When researching wine tasting in Montepulciano I found so many vineyards that were kid friendly. Some had farms or petting zoos, others had playgrounds and fields for the kids to run around. The one we chose is a small privately owned vineyard that while you are going on the tour they give the kids coloring sheet flash cards of each part of the wine making process. When the adults are doing their wine tasting the children are doing their own juice tasting and getting to color their flash cards. The owner and tour guide were absolutely amazing not to mention the wine was delicious.
(No, he did not drink the wine!)
Hot Tip 5: Be prepared to eat late
One thing we knew going in was that a lot of restaurants did not open for dinner until 7pm. We knew we would be keeping the kids up past their bedtime and we were okay with that. However, in almost every city we found restaurants that were open much earlier and were able to get delicious meals. If you have specific places you want to eat I would check ahead of time if they are open before 7. Restaurants are very accommodating. They were always able to make something out kids would eat even if it was not on the menu. My boys ate spaghetti, gnocchi, ravioli, pizza, and of course gelato. Food was never a worry.
Bonus Tip: Bring a reusable water bottle
One of the amazing things about Italy is their public water fountains. You can find them everywhere. Some even have both flat and sparkling water. It makes it easier to keep your kids and yourself hydrated in the heat.
Read more travel stories from the Local Moms Network:
Why I Travel with My Little Kids (Even Though They Won’t Remember It)